Ketamine and its enantiomers for depression: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2023.
Li-Yuan Zhao, Guang-Fen Zhang, Xue-Jie Lou, Kenji Hashimoto, Jian-Jun Yang
European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience April 25, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01809-9 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractOver the past two decades, research on the antidepressant effects of ketamine and its enantiomers has grown substantially, culminating in the approval of esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression. A bibliometric analysis of 4,274 publications from 2000 to 2023, using visualization tools, reveals two main research foci: the efficacy and safety of these compounds in treating depression, and the mechanisms underlying their rapid antidepressant effects. The rapid onset of ketamine's effects has spurred further investigation into its mechanisms and the search for new antidepressants with fewer side effects.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Bibliometric analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4,274 |
| Population | Publications on the antidepressant effects of ketamine and its enantiomers from the Web of Science Core Collection (2000-2023) |
| Topics | Depression Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Bibliometric analysis Enantiomer Visualization Ketamine-based therapy |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key finding | Research on ketamine and its enantiomers for depression has increased significantly over two decades, focusing on efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action, leading to the approval of esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression. |
Abstract
Ketamine has demonstrated rapid and sustained antidepressant effects, marking its emergence as an innovative treatment of depression. Despite the growing number of preclinical and clinical studies exploring the antidepressant effects of ketamine and its enantiomers, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in this field has yet to be conducted. This study employs bibliometric methods and visualization tools to examine the literature and identify key topics related to the antidepressant effects of ketamine and its enantiomers. We sourced publications on the antidepressant effects of ketamine and its enantiomers from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database, covering the period from 2000 to 2023. Tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace and the R package "bibliometrix" were utilized for visual analysis. The study included 4,274 publications, with a notable increase in publications peaking in 2022. Co-occurrence analysis highlighted two primary research focal points: the efficacy and safety of ketamine and its enantiomers in treating depression, and the mechanisms behind their antidepressant effects. In conclusion, this analysis revealed a significant increase in research on the antidepressant effects of ketamine and its enantiomers over the past two decades, leading to the approval of esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression. The rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine have spurred further studies into its mechanisms of action and the search for new antidepressants with fewer side effects.